Method of mounting liquid crystal display module and apparatus thereof

ABSTRACT

A method of mounting a liquid crystal display module thereof which secures an upper sash including the liquid crystal display module to a lower sash in a notebook personal computer. An arm coupled to one end of a fixed rod by a hinge is arranged to be positioned between a side wall of the upper sash and a side wall of the lower sash. A screw goes through from the side wall of the upper sash, via the arm, to the side wall of the liquid crystal display module.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/440,266filed on Nov. 15, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,304,432 which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 09/178,833 filed Oct. 26, 1998, nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,244,423, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.09/010,491, filed on Jan. 21, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,872,606.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.97-20550, filed in Korea on May 24, 1997, which is hereby incorporatedby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a computer having a liquid crystaldisplay module, and more particularly, to a method of mounting a liquidcrystal display module in a computer such as a notebook personalcomputer (hereinafter referred to as “NTPC”).

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a conventional NTPC is manufactured having a size that allowsa user to exploit information in the course of his travels. In such anNTPC, a liquid crystal display (LCD) module is used as the displaydevice for displaying the information. The liquid crystal display modulehas to be protected from being damaged when moving the computer systemincluding the LCD module and a keyboard. Also, the LCD module has to besecured to a sash (or moveable frame) so it may be opened at time ofuse. To this end, the liquid crystal display module was provided at abottom surface or an inner surface such that it overlapped with thekeyboard installed on a top surface or an inner surface, or that it isopened for a user together with the keyboard, as the upper sash pivotswith respect to one side of the lower sash.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional notebook personal computer andFIG. 2 is a side view of the conventional notebook personal computer.Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the conventional NTPC, a liquid crystaldisplay module and an upper sash 12 are pivotally secured to a lowersash 10 by a hinge 20 as shown in FIG. 1. A protection rod 14 a isdefined in the edge of the liquid crystal display module 14, and asupport piece 14 b is defined in the protection rod 14 a. This supportpiece 14 b is secured to the bottom surface or inner surface of theupper sash 12 by means of screws 22, thereby supporting the liquidcrystal display module 14 in such a manner that it is not removed.

Meanwhile, the hinge 20 pivotally couples an arm 18 with one end of afixed rod 16. This fixed rod 16 is secured to the inner side, that is,to the rear wall of the lower sash 10 by means of the screws 22. The arm18 is secured to the bottom surface or inner surface of the upper sash12 by means of the screws 22, thereby supporting the liquid crystaldisplay module 14 and the upper sash 12 in such a manner that they pivotwith respect to the upper end of the rear wall of the upper sash 10.Further, an arm 16 is formed in the shape of an “F” such that it cansufficiently bear the load of the upper sash 12, that is, it makes goodcontact with the bottom surface of the upper sash 12.

In the conventional NTPC, as described above, the hinge 20 and theliquid crystal display module 14 are secured to the bottom surface ofthe upper sash 12 separately. This brings about a complication in themanufacturing process. Also, since the arm occupies a great area in theupper sash, the available area of the display portion, that is, theliquid crystal display module, becomes small. This increases thedimension of the NTPC.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method of mounting aliquid crystal display module and an apparatus thereof thatsubstantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitationsand disadvantages of the related art. An object of the present inventionis to provide a method of mounting a liquid crystal display module andan apparatus thereof that can minimize a manufacturing process of theNTPC.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method ofmounting a liquid crystal display module and an apparatus thereof thatcan minimize the dimension of NTPC.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a method ofmounting a liquid crystal display module in a computer having an uppersash, a lower sash, and a fixed rod coupling the upper sash to the lowersash, the upper sash including the liquid crystal display module, ahinge coupled to the fixed rod, and an arm coupled to the hinge,comprises the steps of arranging the arm, coupled to one end of thefixed rod through the hinge in the upper sash, to be positioned betweena side wall of the upper sash and a side wall of the liquid crystaldisplay module; and fastening together the side wall of the upper sashand the side wall of the liquid crystal display module through the arm.

In another aspect of the present invention, a mounting apparatus of aliquid crystal display module in a computer including an upper sashsecured pivotally to a lower sash thereof, the liquid crystal displaymodule being installed in the upper sash, comprises a fixed rod securedto an inner side of the lower sash; a hinge coupled to the fixed rod; anarm coupled pivotally to one end of the fixed rod through the hinge; anda screw securing the upper sash and the liquid crystal display modulethrough the arm.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of mounting aliquid crystal model comprises the steps of arranging an arm coupledwith one end of a fixed rod by a hinge in such a manner that it isdisposed between a side wall of the upper sash and a side wall of theliquid crystal display module, and going through a screw from the sidewall of the upper sash to the side wall of the liquid crystal displaymodule by way of the arm.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a mounting apparatus of aliquid crystal display module in a notebook personal computer whichincludes an upper sash secured pivotally to a lower sash thereof and anliquid crystal module installed to the upper sash, comprises a fixed rodsecured to the inner side of the lower sash, and an arm coupledpivotally with one end of the fixed rod by a hinge, and secured to aside wall of the upper sash by a screw along with the liquid crystaldisplay module.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front section view of the conventional notebook personalcomputer;

FIG. 2 is a side section view of the conventional notebook personalcomputer;

FIG. 3 is a front section view of a notebook personal computer accordingto an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a side section view of a notebook personal computer accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 3 is a front section view of an NTPC employing a mounting apparatusfor a liquid crystal display module according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, and FIG. 4 is a side section view of an NTPCemploying a mounting apparatus for a liquid crystal display moduleaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the NTPC includes an upper sash 32 pivotallysecured to a lower sash 30 by a hinge 40. This upper sash 32 is providedwith a liquid crystal display module 34, and the edges or side walls ofthe liquid crystal display module 34, are provided with a protection rod34 a. The upper sash 32 has a rectangular plastic plate 32 a, side walls32 b extending perpendicularly from the plastic plate 32 a, a front wallnot shown, and a rear wall 32 c. Further, there is provided a blade 32 dextending in parallel with the plastic plate 32 a or extending with aslant toward the plastic plate 32 a, in the upper ends of these walls,that is, the side walls 32 b, front wall, and rear wall 32 c.

Meanwhile, the hinge 40 pivotally couples an arm 38 with one end of afixed rod 36. This fixed rod 36 goes through a hole, not shown, definedfrom a middle position of the rear wall 32 c of the uppers sash 32 tothe end position of the blade 32 d and a hole, not shown, defined fromthe rear side end of the upper plate of the lower sash 30, and thenextends to the inner side of the lower sash 30. Further another side ofthe fixed rod 36 is secured to the inner face of the rear wall of thelower sash 30 by means of screws 42. The arm 38 is formed in such amanner that it extends from the hinge 40 by a length of the side face ofthe liquid crystal display module 34. The arm 38 also opposes theprotection rod 34 a and the side wall 32 b of the upper sash 32. Thus,the arm 38 is secured by the screw 42 to be positioned between theprotection rod 34 a and the side wall 32 b of the upper sash 32. At thistime, the screw 42 passes through the side wall 32 b of the upper sash32 and the arm 38 and then reaches a middle position of the protectionrod 34 a, thereby coupling both of the liquid crystal display module 34and the arm 38 with the upper sash 32. Accordingly, both of the uppersash 32 and the liquid crystal module 34 pivots with respect to the rearside edge of the lower sash 30 along with the arm 38. Also, an occupiedarea of the arm 38 at the upper sash 32 is reduced. In addition,although the hinge is disposed at the inner side of the upper sash 32 inthe present embodiment, it may be disposed at the lower sash 30 for thesake of reducing the size of the upper sash 32.

As described above, according to an liquid crystal display modulemounting apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to reduce amanufacturing process of the NTPC by securing the arm and the liquidcrystal display module to the side wall of the upper sash. Also, theliquid crystal display module mounting apparatus of the presentinvention can increase the available area of the display portion as wellas a reduction in the dimension of NTPC.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the method of mountingliquid crystal display module and apparatus thereof of the presentinvention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modificationsand variations of this invention provided they come within the scope ofthe appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display assembly, comprising: an upper framehaving an inner portion partially defined by an upper frame wall; adisplay in said inner portion; a lower frame; a hinge comprised of apivotally attached rod and arm, wherein said rod is disposed betweensaid upper frame wall and said display, and wherein said arm is attachedto said lower frame; and a fastener passing through said upper framewall and into said display, wherein said fastener secures said display,said rod, and said upper frame together; wherein said upper frame canselectively pivot relative to said lower frame.
 2. A display assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said fastener passes through said rod. 3.A display assembly according to claim 1, wherein said rod fully extendsalong a side of the display.
 4. A display assembly according to claim 1,wherein said upper frame wall includes a concave structure, and whereinsaid fastener passes through said concave structure.
 5. A displayassembly according to claim 1, wherein said hinge is within said upperframe inner portion.
 6. A display assembly according to claim 1, whereinsaid display is a liquid crystal display.
 7. A display assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said display includes a protection rodthat receives the fastener.
 8. A display assembly according to claim 1,wherein said fastener is a screw.
 9. A display assembly according toclaim 1, wherein said upper frame includes a plate behind said displayand enclosing walls, wherein said plate, said enclosing walls, and saidupper frame wall define said inner portion.
 10. A display assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said lower frame includes a lower innerportion partially defined by a lower frame side wall and a lower backwall.
 11. A display assembly according to claim 1, wherein said arm is abracket.
 12. A display assembly according to claim 1, further includinga second hinge comprised of a pivotally attached second rod and secondarm, wherein said second rod extends between a second upper frame walland said display device, wherein said second arm is attached to saidlower frame; and wherein a second fastener passes through said secondupper frame wall and into said display, wherein said second fastenersecures said display, said second rod, and said upper frame together.13. A display assembly according to claim 1, wherein said upper frame iscomprised of plastic.
 14. A display assembly according to claim 13,further including a cap over said concave structure.
 15. A displayassembly according to claim 13, wherein said fastener screws into saidprotection rod.
 16. A display assembly according to claim 10, whereinsaid arm passes from said upper frame inner portion into said lowerframe inner portion.
 17. A display assembly according to claim 10,wherein said arm attaches to said lower frame side wall.
 18. A displayassembly according to claim 12, wherein said rod and said second rod areon opposite sides of said display.
 19. A display assembly according toclaim 17, further including a plurality of arm fasteners attaching saidarm to said lower frame side wall.
 20. A display assembly according toclaim 19, wherein said plurality of arm fasteners are screws.
 21. Adisplay assembly according to claim 20, wherein said arm includes aplurality of threaded openings receiving said screws.
 22. A computer,comprising: an upper frame having a first side wall, a rear wall with anopening, and a plate; a display within said upper frame, said displaydisposed such that a back of said display is adjacent said plate, suchthat a side of said display is adjacent said first side wall, and suchthat a bottom of said display is adjacent said rear wall; a lower frame;and a hinge comprised of a pivotally attached rod and arm, wherein saidrod extends between said first side wall and said display; wherein saidarm is attached to said lower frame; wherein said upper frame canselectively pivot relative to said lower frame; and wherein said hingeis located such that said lower frame 30 extends beyond said rear wallwhen said upper frame is pivoted away from said lower frame.
 23. Acomputer according to claim 22, wherein said arm is disposed in saidopening when said upper frame is pivoted away from said lower frame. 24.A computer according to claim 22, wherein said arm is attached to a sidewall of said lower frame.
 25. A computer according to claim 22, whereinsaid computer is a portable computer.
 26. A computer according to claim22, wherein said display is a liquid crystal display.
 27. A computeraccording to claim 22, wherein said display includes a protection rodthat receives the fastener.
 28. (New) A computer according to claim 23,further including a fastener passing through said upper frame and intosaid display, wherein said fastener secures said display, said rod, andsaid upper frame together.
 29. A computer according to claim 23, whereinsaid fastener passes through said first side wall.
 30. A computeraccording to claim 24, wherein said arm is attached to said side wall ofsaid lower frame using a plurality of fasteners.
 31. A computeraccording to claim 24, wherein said arm acts as a bracket.
 32. Acomputer according to claim 24, further including a second hingecomprised of a pivotally attached second rod and second arm, whereinsaid second rod extends between a second side wall and said displaydevice, wherein said second arm is attached to said lower frame; andwherein a second upper frame fastener passes through said second sidewall and into said display, wherein said second fastener secures saiddisplay, said second rod, and said upper frame together.
 33. A computeraccording to claim 24, wherein said rod and said second rod are disposedon opposite sides of said display.
 34. A computer according to claim 27,wherein said fastener is a screw.
 35. A computer according to claim 34,wherein said fastener screws into said protection rod.
 36. A method ofmounting a display in a computer having an upper frame with an upperframe wall, a lower frame, and a hinge having a pivotally attached rodand arm, the method comprising the steps of: attaching the arm to thelower frame; disposing the rod between the display and the upper framewall; and securing the upper frame, the rod, and the display togetherusing a fastener that passes through the upper frame wall; wherein saidupper frame can selectively pivot relative to said lower frame.
 37. Themethod of mounting a display according to claim 36, wherein the step ofsecuring the upper frame wall, the rod, and the display togetherincludes screwing the fastener into the display.
 38. A method ofmounting a display according to claim 36, wherein the step of attachingthe arm to the lower frame includes screwing the arm to the lower frame.